Associated Ambulance & Services (Whitecourt) Ltd., Collective Agreement 2020-2025

Article 44: Job Share

An Employee or Employer may request a “job-share” arrangement. When a request for a Job Share has been mutually agreed upon between the Employees and the Employer, the terms and conditions shall be confirmed in a written agreement and signed by the Employer and the Union. Requests for Job Share shall not be unreasonably denied.

The intent of a Job Share is not to provide more availability for other Employers but to achieve better work life balance.

For the purpose of the Letter of Understanding (LOU) a Part-time Employee shall be considered to be one that works a 0.5 FTE.

The terms shall include:
 

1. The Employees partnering in a Job Share arrangement will share the duties and responsibilities of one Regular Full-time (1.0 FTE) position in one classification at one site.
2. A Job Share agreement shall be entered into by one (1) Full-Time (1.0 FTE) Employee and a Casual Employee.
   1. The two Employees will request the conversion of a Regular Full Time position as a pair.
   2. The Employer has discretion with respect to creating a Job Share position.
   3. If a Job Share position is established, the two Employees will be given the opportunity without any further posting.
   4. For the duration of the Job Share, both Employees will be considered Regular Part-time Employees and all the relevant provision under the Collection Agreement shall apply.
3. The hours of work of the Job Share-position will be equally split between two Employees.
4. While working in the Job Share position, the status of Employee 1 will be a 0.50 FTE Regular Part-Time; working 50% of the posted rotation and the status of Employee 2 will be a 0.50 FTE Regular Part-Timer also working 50% of the posted rotation. Together, the Employees will share the hours of work of 1.0 FTE position. A typical schedule will be four (4) twenty-four (24) hour shifts followed by twelve (12) days off duty. Other Job Share shift schedule arrangements may be considered. Such request shall not be unreasonably denied.
5. The Employees may exchange shifts and/or days off with the approval of the Employer provided no increase in cost is incurred by the Employer. There shall be no shift giveaways allowed.
6. For the duration of this Job Share arrangement, the provisions of the Collective Agreement, as well as Employer policies, procedures, and guidelines will be administered based the reduced FTE of each Employee, including, but not limited to:
   1. accrual of vacation time and sick time;
   2. payment for Named Holidays: and
   3. Employee benefits that are dependent on hours worked.
7. The payment of named holidays for Employees in a job share arrangement shall be as follows:
   1. both Employees will be paid 0.50 FTE based on Article 16.01 at their basic rate of pay;
   2. in addition, an Employee obliged in the course of duty to work on a named holiday shall be paid for all core and flex hours at two-times (2x) their basic rate of pay.
8. 1. In the event that one of the Employee is absent from work for any
      reason, the remaining Employee may be required by the Employer to work all hours of the Job Share position or to work a different schedule.
   2. If one Employee is away, or is anticipated to be absent from work, for any reason, for a period of greater than thirty (30) days, the remaining Employee will have up to 30 days to find another Employee to fill the absent half of the Job Share or work all of the Hours for the duration of the absence.
   3. This shall be at no additional cost to the Employer.
9. With thirty (30) days written notice, either party may discontinue this job share arrangement.

10. In the event the Employer cancels this job share arrangement:

    1. The Employees will revert back to their position/status held prior to the Job Share.
    2. If the Employee who previously held the Full-Time position chooses to not return to Full Time, that position will be offered, without posting, to the other Employee as long as they have been in the Job Share position for a period of one (1) year; or
    3. Either Employee may pursue employment opportunities through the regular posting process.
    4. If either Employee is unable to obtain a position through the posting process, they shall be converted to casual status. 

    Such movements are not in violation of the Collective Agreement.

11. In the event that either of the Employees resigns pursuant to 24.01 or terminates this job share arrangement, the following may occur:

    1. The remaining Employee retains the option to assume their original position or status as a Casual Employee; or
    2. Find another Employee to partner in the Job Share;
    3. If a suitable partner cannot be found, the remaining Employee may be offered, without posting, the Full-Time position as long as they have been in the Job Share position for a period of one (1) year; or
    4. The Employee may opt to apply for an alternate position through the normal posting process.
    5. An Employee unable to obtain a position through the posting process shall be converted to casual status. 

    Such movement(s) is not in violation of the Collective Agreement.

12. Both of the Employees will be held accountable for the outcomes expected of the shared position.
13. The Employee will have on-going, timely, effective, and proactive communication in respect of all aspects of the duties, responsibilities, and work associated with the position. As requested or required by the Employer, one or both Employees will attend meetings and/or staff development in-services and fully communicate information received therein to the other Employee, if required. Professional, timely and efficient communication is a key requirement of this arrangement.
14. Notwithstanding Article 19.03 of the Collective Agreement, each Employee will participate in the Employee Benefit program. Each Employee will agree to pay the total premium for Long- and Short-term Disability and cost share the premiums by paying fifty (50%) of their remaining benefit premiums.
15. Any notice given pursuant to this Agreement will be delivered to either Employee in writing or, on behalf of the Employee, to the Employees' manager in writing.